Improvement in vehicle-wheel hubs



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

ALMON V. HOLOOMB, OF APPLETON, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN VEHICLE-WHEEL HUBS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,934, dated March 4,1879 application filed February 11, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALMON V. HOLCOMB, of thecity of Appleton, in the county of Outagamie and State of Wisconsin,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWagon-Hubs; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, whichform a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is atransverse section; Fig. 2, a side elevation, and Fig. 3 a detail.

My invention relates to hubs for vehiclewheels; and the novelty consistsin the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth.

In carrying out my invention I employ two cast portions, which I willdesignate as the outer and inner portions, both having an annular flangeat right angles with the longitudinal plane of such portions, whichflanges receive and bind the spokes therein, as will be more fullyhereinafter explained.

The inner portion consists of a hollow shank, which receives the ironaxle of the vehicle, the annular flange being formed at or near thecenter. Uastin one piece with this shank and flange are radial lugs,which extend from the central body of the shank outward along the outerface of the inner flange, the said lugs being received into slots in theends of the spoke-tenons, as shown. The shank, from near the centeroutward, is provided with a screwthread, which operates within thefemalethreaded portion of the outer portion, which has an annularflange,similar to the flange on the inner portion, but facing in the oppositedirection. This outer portion is provided with a wrenchbearing, by meansof which it is forced up against the spoke-tenons, holding them firmlybetween the flanges. The threaded shank protrudes beyond the outerportion, and is adapted to receive a screw-cap, which covers thesecuring-nut on the end of the axle, and forms a neat, finishedappearance to the hub.

My invention is designed as an improvement upon that class of hubs inwhich the spokes are driven in by force between two fixed flanges, andradial lugs operate in slots in the spoke-tenons; but in suchconstruction great nicety is necessary in forming such spoketenons, as aslight variation would render the spokes incapable of being driven iftoo large, and having no binding or holding effect if too small. Toavoid these and other evils I make one flange adjustable by the greatpower of the screw-thread, and the spokes being carefully placed intheir proper relative places,

this flange is forced against the tenons, and forms an efficient holdingdevice for the spokes.

I attach importance to placing the cap upon the same threaded shank uponwhich the outer portion operates, thus acting asa follower to the saidouter portion, holding it secure against displacement.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to bind spoke-tenons betweenadjustable flanges; nor is it new, broadly, to have the radial lugs; andsuch devices, of themselves, are not sought to be covered, broadly, inthis appli cation.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the inner portion of my improvedhub, having a hollow shank, as shown, having a threaded portion, A, andan annular flange, B. B represents radial lugs, extending outward fromthe central body of the shank, and along the outer face, b, of theflange B, and these lugs operate in slots d in the tenon d of the spokeD. The inner portion, A A, flange B b, and radial lugs are cast in onepiece, and form the inner part of the hub.

E represents the outer portion, having hollow shankE, with femalethread, and the annular flange F, as shown.

G represents the cap, haviugfemale thread, and it is adapted to operateupon the threaded end of the shank A, and serves as a follower toadjustable portion E.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

In a metal hub, the combination of the inner portion, A, having threadedshank A, flange B b, and radial lugs B, with the outer portion E, havingthreaded shank E, wrenchbearing, and flange F, and with the threaded capG, as and for the purpose set forth.

. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

ALMON V. HOLCOMB.

In presence of- D. O. BABGOOK, JEROME BAooN.

